The Scottish Government has announced it is to invest £5m in some of the country's poorest households.

The investment, which is being made available from the Government's HEEPS: Cashback – Social Landlords Scheme, provides funding to housing associations and local authority landlords towards energy efficiency measures.

Social landlords can apply for up to £250,000 in funding to help reduce the cost of tenants' fuel bills. The money will be used to help with the cost of installing measures, such as solid wall insulation or hard-to-treat cavity wall insulation.

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This year's scheme opens for applications on Monday 8 June.

Commenting on the announcement, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: "Housing is, and will remain, at the heart of the Government's ambitions to create a fairer and more prosperous country.

"A supply of high quality housing stock and introducing energy efficiency measures stimulates economic growth, provides jobs and strengthens communities and tackles inequality. It is clear that energy efficiency measures can make a huge difference to families who are struggling to make ends meet.

"The cashback scheme is aimed at saving householder's money by reducing their heating bills and will also cut carbon emissions."

David Stewart, Policy Manger, Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA), added: "The SFHA welcomes this funding which is a step in the right direction. Investing in domestic energy efficiency is vital if Scotland is to start to address the scourge of fuel poverty and to work towards meeting our ambitious climate change targets."

(JP)